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Quantitative sensory testing (QST). English version

Quantitative sensorische Testung (QST)

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Abstract

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a standardized and formalized clinical sensitivity test. Testing describes a subjective (psychophysical) method that entails a cooperation of the person to be examined. Within its framework, calibrated stimuli are applied to capture perception and pain thresholds, thus providing information on the presence of sensory plus or minus signs. The presented QST battery imitates natural thermal or mechanical stimuli. The aim is to acquire symptom patterns of sensory loss (for the functioning of the thick and thin nerve fibers) as well as a gain of function (hyperalgesia, allodynia, hyperpathia) with a simultaneous detection of cutaneous and deep tissue sensibility. Most of the tested QST parameters are normally distributed only after a logarithmic transformation (secondary normal distribution)—except the number of paradoxical heat sensations, of cold and heat pain thresholds, and vibration detection thresholds. A complete QST profile can be measured within 1 h. QST is suitable not only for clinical trials but also in practice as a diagnostic method to characterize the function of the somatosensory system—from the peripheral nerve fiber receptor to the projection pathways to the brain.

Zusammenfassung

Die quantitative sensorische Testung (QST) ist eine standardisierte und formalisierte klinische Sensibilitätsprüfung. Bei dem subjektiven (psychophysischen) Verfahren kommt es auf die Mitarbeit der zu untersuchenden Person an. Mit kalibrierten Reizen werden Wahrnehmungs- und Schmerz- schwellen erfasst, die Auskunft über das Vorhandensein sensibler Plus- oder Minuszeichen geben. Die vorgestellte QST-Batterie imitiert natürliche thermische oder mechanische Reize. Ziel ist die Erfassung von Symptommustern eines sensiblen Funktionsdefizits sowie einer Funktionszunahme bei gleichzeitiger Erfassung der Oberflächen- sowie Tiefensensibilität. Die meisten getesteten QST-Parameter sind erst nach Logarithmierung normalverteilt (sekundäre Normalverteilung). Ein vollständiges QST-Profil kann innerhalb einer Stunde gemessen werden. Die QST eignet sich für klinische Studien, aber auch in der Praxis als diagnostisches Verfahren zur Charakterisierung der Funktion des somatosensorischen Systems.

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Acknowledgment

We are indebted to the patients and subjects who participated in the studies for their consent and cooperation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    M. Mücke

  2. Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    M. Mücke, H. Cuhls & L. Radbruch

  3. Division of Neurological Pain Research and Therapy, Department of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany

    R. Baron

  4. Department of Pain Medicine, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    C. Maier

  5. Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany

    T. Tölle

  6. Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

    R.-D. Treede

  7. Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    R. Rolke

Authors
  1. M. Mücke
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  2. H. Cuhls
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  3. L. Radbruch
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  4. R. Baron
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  5. C. Maier
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  6. T. Tölle
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  7. R.-D. Treede
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  8. R. Rolke
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Mücke.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

R. Baron, C. Maier, T. Tölle and R.-D. Treede: DFNS steering committee.

English version of: Mücke M, Cuhls C, Radbruch L, Baron R, Maier C, Tölle T, Treede R-D, Rolke R (2014) Quantitative sensorische Testung. Schmerz 28:635–648 DOI 10.1007/s00482-014-1485-4

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Mücke, M., Cuhls, H., Radbruch, L. et al. Quantitative sensory testing (QST). English version. Schmerz 35 (Suppl 3), 153–160 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00482-015-0093-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00482-015-0093-2

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